Can Congress survive ‘The Big Lie’?

The recent collapse of governance in Britain, the war-mongering autocracy in Russia, the solidification of one-man rule in China, the baffling election in Italy, along with various upheavals across the globe, all make us realize that our political system is not alone in struggling to find its way in a chaotic present and an unpredictable future. Nonetheless, as we near midterm elections, the uniquely important role of Congress has become obvious, as has the equally obvious question: Can Congress govern?

This is not an idle question. When multibillion-dollar bills designed to rebuild our infrastructure or reformulate an energy system to deal with accelerating climate change hang on single votes, mired in parochial interests, it makes one question the viability of the current structure. The inability of the leaders of both Houses to do the basic political task of counting votes makes you wonder what other basic political tasks are beyond their capabilities. And prospects for improvement are dim.

Election deniers seeking election?!

Dozens of people who question the validity of the last presidential election and debase the value of elections are (somewhat paradoxically) running for office with an express aim to demean the very political body they are seeking to enter. Some are likely to succeed and join the remnant of the 147 Representatives who voted against certifying the election of Joe Biden. How will Congress function in those circumstances? The deck seems stacked against it.